EVALUATION ISSUES IN PSYCHOLOGY

The Edexcel Specification expects you to be able to (AO1) know and understand, (AO2) apply, (AO3) analyse and evaluate all the material in the course.

Evaluation means looking at the strengths and weaknesses of research: what features are done well and what features can be improved. It also means making comparisons: looking at how research is similar to or different from other research into the same area.

Notice the reference to "conclusions" in the AO3 definition. Evaluation isn't about making a bunch of unconnected points. It's about building to a conclusion. This is particularly important in the essay questions in the exam, where top band will not be awarded to evaluation that doesn't build to a conclusion.

EVALUATING STUDIES: GRAVE

Edexcel encourages you to use an easy mmemonic when evaluating studies:

GENERALISABILITY means whether the study's sample is truly representative of the target population

RELIABILITY means whether the procedures are consistent enough to be replicated and get the same results again

APPLICATIONS means whether the study is useful in the real world

VALIDITY is whether to the study really tells you about what it is supposed to tell you about

ETHICS means whether the study ensures the wellbeing of its participants and the wider community

The crucial questions you should be asking and answering when evaluating are:

What has been done to make this study successful?

What should be done to make this study more successful?

EVALUATING THEORIES: CODA

I find this mnemonic valuable for evaluating theories:

CREDIBILITY means the strengths of a theory: what makes it believable?

OBJECTIONS refers to criticisms of a theory: what counts against it?

DIFFERENCES are how the theory differs from other theoriesd that try to explain the same thing

APPLICATIONS means whether the theory is useful in the real world

The crucial questions you should be asking and answering when evakuating are: